History
History of the Union:
The idea of unions was born in Cambridge, England, in the early 1800s when debating societies needed a place to debate, then gather and have refreshments after their debates. This began the long-standing tradition of the union as the living room or hearthstone of the campus. The first union in the US was at Harvard. The first building to house union services and activities was at University of Pennsylvania in 1896. It was called Houston Hall. In 1996, Houston Hall celebrated its 100th birthday. The student union has a long tradition on the North Texas campus as well. In March 1999, we celebrated 50 years of unions at North Texas.
The union tradition began in 1948, enabling legislation and the opening of the Memorial Student Union in 1949, dedicated to the alumni who gave their lives in World Wars I and II. The desire and need for a center for campus social activities goes back much further.
As early as 1931, O’Neil Ford, a distinguished alum and architect, designed a student union that would incorporate a long dreamed of memorial tower and bell. A campaign was launched to raise $100,000 needed for the project, but the times were not right for fund-raising. The country was in the midst of the devastating Depression. College administrators did not give up, however, and in 1933, President Robert L. Marquis submitted a proposal for a student union and dining hall to be financed under the National Recovery Act at a cost of $150,000. Still nothing happened, and the students continued without a union for another 16 years.
Revenue bonds were secured as funds for the first union, which was a remodeled army surplus center. The students did not mind since, at long last, they had a place to gather for fun, food, and fellowship.
The Union was dedicated on March 31, 1949, on the 50th anniversary of the signing of the legislative act providing for the establishment of North Texas as a state institution. A bronze plaque with names of 147 former students who died in military service was erected in the main foyer.
The Howdy Room was the students’ new “living room” on campus, and for many years, was the center of social activity. The Snack Bar, the Trophy Room, the Trading Post, and the Slab were early union facilities well remembered by students of that day. Impromptu dancing in the Howdy Room, Wednesday night dances on the Slab and weekly concerts by the Aces of Collegeland (the forerunner of today’s Lab Bands) were all a part of that first Union.
By the early 1960s the University’s growth forced another change. The student body was rapidly outgrowing the original Memorial Student Union, and plans were approved for a new facility to be constructed in two stages. The first wing began in early summer 1963, just south of the existing facility. When the first wing opened, the old building was demolished and the main wing was constructed on the original Union site.
Though not yet 10 years old, the second Union facility soon became inadequate, and, in May 1973, the Board of Regents approved a $7 million expansion program for the building. The present expanded University Union encompasses the old building, more than doubling the space for student activities and organizations. Dedication ceremonies of this facility were held on March 7, 1976.
1997 brought with it a new era for the Union when one of its’ many services were privatized. The new Campus Chat Food Court has become a new focal point and hub of activities. Along with the many changes came the first full service bank on campus.
The future holds many additional challenges to meet the ever-changing needs of the campus community. The Union continues to diversify and broaden its base to provide services to the community and open its doors to other universities and businesses for the purposes of hosting conferences and banquets. From the period between 1948 and 1998, the University Union progressed from a renovated army surplus center to one of the country’s most progressive unions.
Today the Union plays a significant role in co-curricular activities that foster a total learning environment. We are committed to providing an atmosphere that is educational, cultural, social, and recreational and that enhances the experiences of the entire campus community.
The University Union provides many programs and services essential to making a student’s life on campus more pleasant. Grab a bite to eat, check for mail, cash a check, see a movie, or play a game of billiards; the Union is never a dull place. Every year the Union is host to thousands of events and programs put on by university departments as well as the community. In addition to all that activity, the University Program Council, a student organization that is part of the Union Programs, puts on a variety of events each year.
As the hub of activities, students find it easy to fit into campus life at the Union. We house the student organizations and student government (there are more than 300 student organizations on campus) as well as student services such as employment, counseling and testing, career opportunities, and disability accommodations.
It is possible, even in this vibrant atmosphere, to find a quiet place to study or relax. Wander through the Union Gallery to feed the soul and slip into a study carrel on level 4 for a bit of last minute study time.
A diverse population, a variety of programs and services, and a staff of dedicated people create a climate of comfort and community at the Union. We are here to help you. Come home to the University Union.